Located in East Bristol, Bickley Wood is part of the Avon River Trail that runs from Pill to Pulteney Bridge in Bath and is one of three woodlands that make up the Avon Valley Wood Nature Reserve.
Bickley Wood has the most extensive exposure of rocks in the area dating back to the Carboniferous period.
The smooth rock formations around the woodland are a reminder of its industrial past when the valley was quarried for over 200 years especially Pennant Sandstone, a rock that splits easily into thin slabs and was used for building kerbs, paving and walling.
The stone was then loaded onto river barges just below the weir and transported locally to Bristol and Bath as well as further afield until 1926, when the last quarry closed.
The woodlands and the nearby River Avon provide a wide range of habitats for wildlife which attract a variety of wildlife including herons, kingfishers and otters along the river and woodpeckers, great tits and, sometimes buzzards, in the woodland.
The nature reserve is owned by the South Gloucestershire Council and cared for by the Friends of Avon Valley Woodlands.
Here are 25 photos from our visit to Bickley Wood and surrounding area:
5. Memorials
We came across some memorial plaques on trees in Bickley Wood in memory of Ken Jay, Jessie Jay and Kenneth Jay. | adriana amor
6. Parking
Located next to Castle Farm Road, the car park is free to use for visitors. | adriana amor
7. Picnic spots
We came across an open space next to the stream which could be a perfect picnic spot on a nice, sunny day. | adriana amor
8. River Avon
The River Avon runs next to the woodland. During our visit, it had a very high tide. | adriana amor